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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


¥   mp< 


0", 


vV 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  Institut  Canadian  de  m:croreproduction8  historiques 

1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 


D 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul6e 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I    ~J    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Lk-J    Pages  d^colordes,  tachet6es  ou  piqu6es 


D 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


□Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Showthrough/ 


Transparence 


□ 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualitd  indgale  de  I'impression 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


n 


n 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film6es. 


D 
D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  6t6  film^es  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


^ 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


ails 

du 

difier 

une 

iage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exempiaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationate  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exempiaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  film^s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  er<  ^erminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  uno  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  ouivants  appara?tra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  oe  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ♦►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
lllustrent  la  m^thode. 


rrata 
o 


jelure, 
1  d 


3 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

,v 


H   i  ■ 


A  Sheaf  of  Sonnets 


A  SHEAF  OF  SONNETS 


BY 


JAMES  COBOURG  HODGINS 


Philadelphia 
1896 


Copyright,  1896,  by  James  Cobourg  IIodgins 


Edition  limited  to  300  copies.     No. 


Prbss  of 

Franklin  Printing  Co. 

Phtladblphia 


[)3 


0 
Not  what  the  Artist  wrought, 
Not  what  the  Singer  trilled, 
Not  what  the  Seer  foretold ; 
But  beauty  still  uncaught, 
Heart-hunger  still  unjilled. 
Vision  no  mind  ean  hold. 


?  1 


=L 


NIGHT   AND   THE  STARS  AND  SILENCE. 

Night  and  the  stars  and  silence!     World  on  world 

Floating,  how  softly,  in  the  seas  of  space! 

Bright  planet-ships  which  gliding  leave  no  trace: 

Into  the  luminous  ether  ever  whirled 

By  Thee,  Vast  Spinner,  at  Thy  ceaseless  wheel, 

To  glow  and  mount  and  struggle  back  again 

Through  what  vast  rapture,  through  what  priceless  pain. 

Ere  soul  from  fire-mist  will,  and  think,  and  feel ! 

What  of  the  one  small  life,  the  one  tense  will, 
The  little  heart-break,  the  slim  tragedy, 
The  clinging  love  which  passing,  passes  all ! 
What  of  man's  hope,  his  momentary  thrill 
At  sight  of  loveliness,  felicity ; 
What  of  Thy  Spirit's  urgent,  fiery  call! 


1895. 


APART. 

Let  the  hot  combat  call !     I  shall  not  heed. 
Full  well  I  know  the  reelin^^  contest  there  : 
The  clash  of  steel  on  steel,  the  dust-filled  air, 
The  loud  huzzas,  the  victor  and  his  deed. 

Unlovely  all !     Oh,  thrice  unlovely  then 
The  bubbling  wine-cup,  the  cool  banquet-hall, 
The  joy  nursed  on  the  bloody  sweat  of  thrall. 
Like  brilliant  scum  upon  a  reeking  fen  ! 

Here  in  a  quiet  cloister,  I,  apart, 

Muse  oft  upon  a  hidden  treasure,  sigh 

With  one  who  paced  a  Galilean  wild. 

Here  with  a  few  choice  friends  share  I  my  heart. 

The  world  cries  "  Failure !  "  as  it  hurries  by. 

Failure !— Dear  God,  at  last  I  am  Thy  child  ! 


1895. 


AD   DEUM. 

I  do  not  ask  that  Thou  shouldst  full  reveal 
The  glory  of  Thy  hiding  place,  or  show 
To  my  presumptuous  eyes  the  bliss,  the  glow 
Deific.     Rather  place  thy  heaviest  seal 
Upon  that  radiance  which  is  all  Thine  own  ! 
Keep  me,  oh  Potter,  to  my  lowly  wheel! 
Ward  off  my  idle  visions  when  I  steal 
Too  close,  heart-urged,  to  the  eternal  throne ! 

Yet  death  is  terrible,  and  stern,  and  fain 

I  would  escape  his  pitiless  decree; 

Or,  if  I  could,  stretch  hope  beyond  a  dream. 

Behold,  this  goodly  earth  holds  many  slain ! 

Many  are  stricken  who  in  terror  flee 

They  know  not  where,  and  love  is  not  supreme. 


1896. 


Ill 
I 


THE   CHRIST. 

"  Let  not  your  hearts  be  troubled  :  ye  believe." 
Ah,  how  could  hearts  be  troubled,  Master,  dear, 
What  time  thy  gracious  countenance  gave  cheer 
To  longing  souls  who  did  from  thee  receive 
Health,  grace  and  up-lift,  strength  to  fight,  reprieve 
From  the  tormenting  devils  born  of  fear, 
From  the  vague  future  stretching  blank  and  drear! 
Thy  passing  near,  what  could  they  else  but  grieve! 

It  fares  not  so  with  us  who  toil  to-day 

To  bring  the  blessed  kingdom  in.      We  fight 

A  vaster  issue ;    wider  is  the  night 

In  which  our  souls  must  wander;    rough  the  way, 

Nor  flashes  far  the  goal.      Ah,  that  we  might 

Touch  thee  as  those  did,  call  thee  Life  and  Light! 


1895. 


II' ii 


lil( 


iii' ' 


M« 


A   MOOD. 


A  day  of  storm  and  wind,  and  then  a  calm  ; 
An  olive-golden  light  athwart  a  stream ; 
The  foliage  pierced  by  many  a  slender  beam ; 
And  over  all  soft  airs — God's  healing  balm. 
Nature  this  day  seems  quiring  some  high  psalm, 
Such  as  rapt  saint  might  hear,  and  hearing  deem 
That  God  was  in  his  ecstacy,  and  dream. 
And  be  transfigured,  holding  forth  a  palm. 


ii 


I,  pent  in  dusty  streets,  still  feel  the  spell 
Of  that  mild  hour,  its  healthful  infl-ience 
Vanishes  not,  but  lingers  on  in  sense 
Like  perfume  sweet  of  flower  in  forejt  dell. 
So  should  I  wish  when  leaden  grow  these  eyes. 
To  float,  all  tranquil,  into  Paradise. 


1889. 


ii'iiU 


CARPE   DIEM. 

All  that  men  long  for  the  godc  laugh  to  scorn, 
Knowing  how  little  is  required  to  give 
Life's  deepest  peace.      He  who  would  truly  live 
Must  dwell  within,  whence  every  joy  is  born. 
Stand  in  the  majesty  of  thine  own  power ! 
Look  for  no  end  beyond  it — self's  the  whole ! 
Frail  chrysalis,  thou  holdest  all  time's  dower, 
And  each  advance  discovers  but  thy  soul ! 

Now  roses  biazon  in  the  summer's  heat, 
And  all  the  hill-tops  glow  like  amethyst ; 
Each  Hamadryad  hath  by  Faun  been  kissed, 
Or  waits  his  coming  in  a  green  retreat. 
Why,  when  the  gods  an  idle  measure  tread. 
Should  thankless  man  be  en/ious  of  his  dead? 


1894. 


&£»i&iii!^ 


I 

I! 
k 


!;:'^ii 


OMAR   KHAYYAM. 

In  that  dear  land  toward  which  each  heart  doth  turn, 

As  in  a  dream  I  wandered  wide  and  free. 

On  my  enraptured  ear  the  minstrelsy 

Of  Heaven  smote  :    I  saw  the  Seraph  bjrn. 

Before  God's  Throne  a  silver  river  ran 

In  gentle  curves,  and,  on  its  placid  breast 

Full  many  a  fragrant  lily  sank  to  rest, 

And  not  a  happy  thing  lay  under  ban. 

And  there,  as  on  the  earth,  man  talked  with  man. 

And  some  said  :    "  There  is  much  beyond  this  state !" 

And  such  with  rheumy  eyes  did  old  scripts  con. 

Past  these  a  troop  of  merry  children  ran 

In  hot  pursuit  of  one  who  cried  elate  : 

"  Seize  while  you  may — the  caravan  moves  on  !" 


1896. 


TO   R.  F.  VV. 

We  who  the  seas   untried  would  blindly  sail 
Believing  all  is  well  ;    with  knowled<,^e  small 
Of  reefs  and  sunken  shoals  ;    lured  by  some  tall 
And  sun-lit  summit — we  who  scorn  to  fail 
Because  the  gushing  fountain  of  our  strength 
Upholds  and  cheers  us,  O,  how  oft  we  veer 
From  the  high  calling  which  to  faith  shows  clear! 
How  oft  we  journey  scarce  a  cable's  length  ! 

When   doubt  arises  and  tiie  sky  grows  dim, 
And  vague  unrest  perplexes  our  clear  course, 
Lo,  on  the  shadowy  verge  we  oft  descry 
Some  lordlier  vessel  piercing  to  the  rim 
That  marges  glory.      Straight  we  gather  force 
And  follow  after,  urged  by  sea  and  sky. 


1S95. 


COURAGK. 


• 


When  envious  tongues  traduce  and  liars  rage; 

When  spleen  is  law  and  falsehood  sits  enthroned; 

When  truth,  the  meek  and  patient  one,  is  stoned, 

And  gains  its  sad  and  bitter  heritaire ; 

When  those  called  friends  turn  out  but  broken  reeds ; 

When  selfishness  unmasks  its  cunning  face; 

When  unfaith  triumphs  to  the  man's  disgrace, 

And  false  love  passes  by  a  sore  world's  needs; 

Then  may  I  travel  inward  to  my  soul, 

And  brood  upon  the  sufferers  of  time  past, 

Thinking  betimes:    How  many  failed  of  goal ! 

Hoiv  ma?iv  more  to  rack  and  stake  were  cast! 

Hozv  many  died  in  bitterness  nnkno%vn  ! 

Who  asked  the  world  for  bread  and  got — a  stone  f 


1893. 


r 


SYMPATHY. 

We  build  our  litt'e  island-home,  the  wave 

Plays  lightly  round  each  cove  and  tranquil  bay. 

"  Thus  shall  it  ever  be  for  us,"  we  say. 

"  Far  roars  the  tempest !     Here  the  waters  lave 

No  wreck-strewn  shore,  but  cream  in  lazy  foam  ! 

Never  to  us,  isled  in  by  perfect  peace 

Shall  come  the  rack  and  fury!     Here  surcease 

Of  earth-born  sorrow!     Here  our  final  home!" 

But  on  a  sudden  the  black  waters  roar  : 
Straight  falls  our  fabric  in  the  hissing  brine. 
In  vain  we  scan  the  heavens  for  a  sign  ; 
No  sign  appears,  and  joy  returns  no  more. 
Then  plead  we  from  the  depths  of  sorrow's  psalm 
"  Let,  O  dear  God,  all  other  seas  be  calm  !" 


1895, 


v 


i 


i 


"  BUT   THE   GREATEST   OF  THESE   IS   LOVE." 

When  rude  man  cowered  before  a  world  unknown, 
And  lifted  up  his  hands  in  einpty  space, 
Seeking  by  rite  and  slaughter  to  efface 
His  sense  of  guilt,  love  hid  within  his  moan. 
When  to  a  lordlier  stature  he  had  grown. 
And  time  had  chiselled  out  a  fairer  face— 
The  splendid  shadow  of  a  coming  grace- 
Love,  crowned  as  Art.  sat  mounted  on  the  throne. 

Behold  him  now  as  master  of  the  world, 
Rich  with  all  learning,  freighted  down  with  spoil, 
Knowing  his  soul— life's  deepest  mystery— 
As  gem  in  which  all  riches  lie  impearled ! 
Yet  would  his  life  be  one  of  mocking  toil 
Devoid  of  love— God's  fount  of  ecstacy. 


^ 


1890. 


thh:ological  hope. 


., 


i, 


Once  in  a  restless  slumber  filled  with   dreams 
Methought  I  wandered  in  a  desert  land 
Where  hung  a  gibbous  moon,  where  the  hot  sand 
Was  hell  unto  my  feet.      In  death's  extremes, 
One  came  with  courage  in  his  eyes,  and  cheer 
In  voice,  and  promise  of  great  aid  from  God. 
Parched,  faint  and  weary  was  I,  but  a  laud 
Broke  from  my  heart,  and  dead  lay  every  fear, 

"  Look  at  the  gracious  deeps  of  space !"    he  cried, 
"  Such  is  the  love  of  God — unsearchable  ! 
Beyond  that  burning  ridge  oases  hide!" 
Then  I  :    "  These  visions  but  my  thirst  deride ! 
One  cup  of  water,  comrade!"     and  I  fell— 
He  drank  himself,  and  on  the  sands  I  died. 


1894. 


DESIDERATUM. 


Lord,  what  am  I  among  these  flaming  hosts  !— 

So  small,  I  --em  but  dust  and  emptiness, 

And  as  I  ponder  fade  from  less  to  less 

Till  thought  sinks  spent.      No  more  for  me  vain  boasts 

Of  ampler  realms  beyond  and  sunnier  coasts 

Where  in  immortal  joy  the  soul  shall  press 

To  statelier  tasks,  and,  freed  from  all  distress, 

Look  back  on  earth  as  on  a  land  of  ghosts. 

I  know  not  what  life's  end,  or  where  I  go 
What  time  this  frame  revert  to  parent  clay; 
Whether  to  deep  sweet  sleep  or  ampler  day, 
To  joy  unspeakable  or  keener  throe. 
What  matter,  if,  when  in  the  lists  I  fall, 
From  all  I  hate  Thy  Spirit  me  unthrall ! 


1890. 


I 


FAITH. 

Fret  not,  my  soul,  each  star  moves  on  its  way, 
And  in  the  boundless  ether  none  is  lost. 
The  sea  returns  to  calm  though  tempest-tost. 
The  roaring  winds  that  mighty  forests  sway 
Pipe  first  in  calm,  and  in  it  lull  away. 
The  flowers  that  shrivel  in  the  autumn  frost— 
Their  beauty  purchased  at  too  great  a  cost 
To  purblind  eyes— but  :sleep,  awaiting  May. 

There  is  no  beauty  cast  to  utter  void. 

There  is  no  longing  mocked  by  idle  air: 

No  thought  all-baffled  in  the  eternal  quest. 

What  crowns  the  pang  can  never  be  destroyed. 

Chaos  hints  Cosmos,  large,  serene  and  fair. 

Through  strife  and  pain  God's  Better  leads  man's  Best. 


^«93. 


I 


THE  JEW. 

God,  the  Eternal,  from  creation  saw 

What  man,  his  darling,  must  through  time  endure; 

Saw  him  in  vision  groping  all  unsure 

With  trembling  steps  up  to  the  highest  law. 

And  seeing,  in   His  pity  and  His  grace. 

From  the  vast  myriads  called  to  life  and  light. 

He  fashioned  Israel,  and  His  great  might 

Took  living  shape  in  one  weak,  puny  race. 


Down  through  the  ages  marched  the  chosen  seed 
Trusting  in  God— wan,  hungry,  outcast,  cursed- 
Faith  their  sole  stay;    but  to  that  faith  how  true! 
O,  parable  in  flesh  which  all  shall  heed! 
Man,  fainting  in  the  presence  of  Hell's  worst, 
Take  heart ;   before  you  stands  the  mighty  Jew ! 


1896. 


AT  NIAGARA. 

Here  at  this  awful  brink  wliere  Chaos  throws 
A  harsh  defiance  to  our  stoutest  liope, 
And  all  man's  aims  seem  pent  in  narrow  scope- 
Here  where  brute-matter  deals  its  fiercest  blows 
At  all  we  fain  would  hold  inviolate, 
I  see  how  God  doth  all  His  creatures  keep. 
Lo,  even  at  the  curving,  glassy  leap 
A  tiny  swallow  dares  its  thirst  to  sate! 

Dear  bird,  that  drinkest  at  the  source  of  strength 
Unfearing,  glad  to  slake  thine  urgent  thirst, 
The  water's  dreadful  roar  affrights  thee  not! 
Ah,  that  I  too,  through  some  bright  lure  at  length 
May,  even  when  the  evil  powers  are  worst, 
Know  but  one  need,  and  all  else  be  forgot! 


1890. 


I    ! 
i    i 


FRIEDLAND. 
(After  Meissomkr.) 

The  thunder  of  a  hundred  thousand  horse 
Rushing  Hke  driven  leaves  in  autumn  storms; 
The  blaze  and  ghtter  of  proud  uniforms ; 
The  frenzied  shouts  that  silence  all  remorse. 
All  tremulous,  mad,  save  thou  imperious  one 
Whose  brow  of  gloom  would  fit  a  cynic  well! 
Those  half-curled  lips  no  inward  rapture  tell: 
Calm  art  thou  always,  victor  or  undone. 

This  is  the  summit!     On  the  topmost  crest 
Thy  bark  is  riding  now!     The  coast  shows  clear! 
Yet  in  thy  triumph  dart  strange  gleams  of  fear, 
I'^or  one  small  cloud  keeps  threatening  in  the  west. 
Methinks  beyond  tiiis  triumph  thou  dost  see 
An  ocean  strand,  exile  and  misery. 


1893. 


I)' 


I; 


!  I 


B 


SHAKSPEARE. 

When  earth  was  young  and  hfe  was  full  and  strong; 
When  mystery  lurked  in  every  grove  and  stream, 
And  truth  was  what  the  poet  saw  in  dream, 
Blind  Homer  sang  for  youth  a  wondrous  song. 
When,  'neath  a  heavy  burden  of  false  fears, 
Men  staggered  in  the  gloom,  a  fierce  dark  soul 
Uprose,  and  Dante  built  into  lifers  whole 
His  Hell  of  woe  and  bitterness  and  tears. 

Then  lest  the  world  should  sink  to  dull  despair, 

Like  the  great  sun,  burst  Shakspeare's  glowing  mind, 

Piercing  the  murky  vapors  that  confined 

Man's  vision  to  the  things  of  lower  air. 

Homer  sings  youth;  Dante  the  soul's  fierce  strife; 

But  Shakespeare  chanu  the  choral  hymn  of  life. 


1891. 


I  it  I 


ON  RECKIVING  SOME  VIOLETS  FROM  THE 
GRAVE  OF  KEATS. 


These  from  the  grave  of  that  young  Titan-soul 
Who  fought  all  forces  save  Heaven's  gift  of  song, 
That,  scattered  in  a  prodigal  waste  along 
A  dreary  highway  full  of  death  and  dole. 

Great  spirit,  moving  now  in  gracious  calm. 

To  whom  the  memory  of  the  bitter  years 

Is  as  a  shadowy  dream  that  leaves  mild  tears, 

Too  late  the  race  that  crushed  thee  yields  its  palm ! 

Oh,  not  in  vain,  strong  soul,  thy  weary  strife. 

Nor  all  in  vain  the  death-damp  and  despair. 

The  bitterness,  the  agony,  the  scorn. 

Thinking  of  thee  full  many  a  soul  forlorn, 

Conscious  of  yearning  for  a  higher  air, 

Has  nursed  vast  hopes,  and  conquered  death  in  life. 


1887. 


1:! 


i   III    ,  : 
!   ill      i 


A  GREEK  REVERIE. 

This  is  the  purple  sea  of  ancient  sonir. 
These  are  the  groves  to  which  bacchantes  hired. 
In  these  grim  rocks  bad  spirits  are  immured, 
Pent  in  by  Heaven  in  token  of  some  wrong. 
Sure,  that  was  Pan  who  flashed  by  through  the  pine, 
Followed  by  boys  with  passionate  eyes,  and  men 
Bedecked  with  roses !     Fainter  down  the  glen 
Tramps  the  mad  rabble,  caught  with  song  divine. 

Now  once  again  the  Lord  of  life  and  day 

Smites  into  splendor  all  the  dull  waste  waves  : 

Straight  Ulysses,  his  face  sleep-swollen  laves, 

Rouses  his  heroes,  and,  with  scant  delay 

Prows  are  turned  homeward .     Hark  the  measured  beat ! 

Another  weary  day  and  vacant  sky  and  heat! 


1894. 


